An opinion piece by Martin Hurn, Event Director, Futurebuild

It’s no secret that the construction sector is a large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions with the built environment responsible for almost 50% of the UK’s emissions. Futurebuild, the ‘industry stage’ for building product innovation, is ‘Taking a Stand’ for a better built environment as part of a launch initiative for next year’s event. It is also urging companies and professionals throughout the construction supply chain to make a similar commitment by ‘taking a stand’ on an issue they passionately believe will help propel the industry towards a more sustainable future.

Faced with this enormous challenge to dramatically improve buildings to meet our climate change targets, we have the ability and a responsibility to change the way we design, construct and operate buildings. Our event’s core is sustainability, but if you’re equally as passionate about diversity or bridging the construction skills gap as you are innovation or improved building standards, next year’s Futurebuild is your stage to showcase that commitment and take a stand.

Now in its 17^th year, Futurebuild – formerly known as Ecobuild – has driven the sustainability agenda by providing a showcase for products and materials that support innovation for the safer, smarter creation of net zero buildings. As well as attracting hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of decision makers, Futurebuild hosts a stellar line-up of 300 distinguished industry speakers across 10 stages. In terms of visitors, 81% of attendees are managerial level or above, they’re senior decision makers with purchasing power.

Our audience are as passionate as we are about creating a better built environment. At last year’s show we hosted the Architect Climate Action Network (ACAN), which is representative of the positive activism many in the industry are calling for to address the building industry’s carbon output. Therefore, whether you’re a professional institution that wants to take part in our speaker programme, you’re looking to host a fringe event or launch a new product, Futurebuild is your ideal platform.

A collaborative approach

Next year’s Take a Stand initiative has already been eagerly received. Dwayne De Silva, Business Develop Manager at AirEx Technologies revealed his commitment to a better built environment at a launch event for Futurebuild 2023. “I’m taking a stand for ventilation,” he said “Currently, there’s a huge emphasis within the UK to insulate homes. But one of the key challenges we face when insulating properties is a large build-up of damp and mould, which could lead to these same properties overheating if insulation is seen as the only solution. Therefore, we also need think about how we ventilate our homes.” 

In addition, Oliver Baker, CEO at Ambient Heating, announced his company was taking a stand for delivering net zero, and the decarbonisation of heat into building types, such as smaller homes and high-rise, multi-occupancy properties, that were not particularly appropriate for air source heat pumps. “We want to do this as cost-effectively as possible for landlords whilst ensuring residents avoid fuel property,” he said.

From architects, housebuilders and developers, through to consultants, contractors and manufacturers, Futurebuild attracts representatives from across the building supply chain. The majority of attendees (75%) are drawn to the event in order to discover new innovations. In terms of values, Futurebuild organisers will certainly ‘walk the talk’ when it comes to the event’s emissions footprint. It’s hoped that future shows will be net zero, with plans to improve the sustainable outcome of Futurebuild 2023 by implementing zero-waste measures and encouraging visitors to cycle or use public transport to attend. 

Discover curated content

Futurebuild 2023 will feature insight and debate from sustainability champions and puts the spotlight on innovative and inspiring products, solutions and services that will help us achieve a net-zero future. It will be curated into eight show sections and spotlights including Buildings,

Digital, District Energy, Energy, Innovation Zone, Interiors, Materials, Offsite, Retrofit and Sustainable Infrastructure. The seminar sessions will be delivered by leading experts from industry partners and associations such as The Good Homes Alliance, BRE, Passivhaus Trust, Built by Nature, CIAT, IOM World and UK DEA (District Energy Association) to name but a few.

There are so many ways we can improve our industry and build a better future. Futurebuild 2023 is the ultimate stage to showcase that commitment to the creation of a better building industry and accelerate our journey to net zero. Therefore, our question to UK construction professionals and bodies in relation to sustainability is a simple one: ‘What are you taking a stand for’?

For more information on how you or your company can become involved in Futurebuild’s Take a Stand campaign, visit www.futurebuild.co.uk

For further information, please contact Lynsey Bienati at Fabrick on:

Telephone: 01622 943147

Email: lynsey.bienati@fabrick.agency

About Futurebuild: Futurebuild is an event that brings together more than 15,000 building industry influencers and decision-makers with the power to make a difference and form part of a major transformation of the sustainable built environment. By cultivating this type of cross-sector collaboration, Futurebuild is helping to inspire the innovation that is needed to propel the construction industry towards the UK government’s ambitious net-zero target. Such an outcome is essential to creating a cleaner, healthier environment for future generations to enjoy.

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